Hand block printing is a unique and mysterious art that combines the perfect balance between innovative techniques and old traditions kept alive by artisans called Chippa, who belong to a community where this profession is passed from father to son.
Fabric printed in this fashion has many qualities and has grown over centuries by using original methods and experimentation that other disciplines find difficult to recreate.
We see the culmination of several colours arranged inside a design like a perfect wooden puzzle. When finished the fabric can also give the impression of an antique - with all its perfectly arranged combinations, giving this handmade craft an air of sophistication and respectfulness.
Printing some designs imperfectly can create an impressionistic look, while others form a modern style, making block printing an evergreen trend that never goes out of fashion.
However, the saga of hand block printing is far more complex and particular than meets the eye. It takes great skill to put together a design which flows effortlessly. The number of colours co-inside with the number of wooden blocks which fit perfectly into each other. It is now becoming exceedingly hard to produce more than 3-4 colours per block, but a good artist is often willing to go all the way in making a print with 5-6 blocks and colours.
Old wooden blocks were smaller in size and more controlled, where as new ones are being made at 6x6 inches which allows the printer to work faster.
Blocks are carved from seasoned Indian rosewood and then sanded for a smooth finish. The carver traces a design on to the surface and then begins to chisel away with his bare hands. This is a time consuming practice and can take up to a week to make an intricate and well finished design. Blocks are then placed in oil so they become seasoned and can be used for a long time without being affected too much by the shifts in weather. If the weather is extremely moist or humid, work must shut down temporarily.
Finally when printing is done, the fabric is dried in the good old Indian sun.